The venture capital industry is undergoing a critical period of consolidation. While the number of major players began to decline a decade ago, the recent global economic downturn and maturation of ten-year venture capital funds raised in 2000 are accelerating this process. Venture capital funds must compete for scarcer limited-partner dollars and face stricter control by federal regulators. Entrepreneurs and companies, in turn, see fewer potential investors and must satisfy investor demands for speedier and more profitable exits. Despite the challenges, venture capital—when properly deployed—is still a catalyst for innovation, job creation, and growth.

In order to capitalize on precious opportunities, clients need counsel who understand the industry and can create legal strategies that suit the new market realities. Cozen O’Connor’s nationally respected venture capital industry team is fully engaged in this dynamic field. Its members focus directly on emerging businesses and venture funds, and many have been doing so for more than twenty years. This level of commitment to the venture arena is unusual among large law firms. Our competitors have moved in and out, carried along by the shifting economic currents. But Cozen O’Connor has stayed committed to the industry from day one.

Our team serves emerging companies and venture capital investors. More specifically, we represent entrepreneurs, family-run enterprises, startups, and venture-backed companies; angel and seed investors; venture capital and private equity funds; and other lenders and debt funds. Because we regularly counsel clients on both sides of the table, we understand the needs of all parties and are able to facilitate efficient negotiations.

It is particularly valuable for venture capital clients to have a team of lawyers who are all experienced in the industry but have different legal specialties. This is because venture clients are, by definition, in the business of fostering change and evolution. Venture-backed companies move from one stage of the corporate life cycle to the next often at breakneck pace, and they need legal and business advisors who can keep up and adapt to their changing needs. At Cozen O’Connor, our venture capital team can organize, finance, market, grow, and sell.

SERVICE AREAS

Transactional

• Negotiate mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, reorganizations, and joint ventures
• Counsel clients on corporate formation and governance procedures
• Arrange complex financings, structure securities offerings, design investment deals
• Draft licensing, distribution, technology transfer, franchise agreements
• Create strategic alliances among executives, lenders, collaborators, and customers

Litigation

• Advocate for clients in disputes with competitors, vendors, customers, or business partners
• Resolve conflicts through trial, settlement negotiations, arbitration, and mediation
• Represent plaintiffs and defendants in diverse business disputes, including alleged breach of contract, fraud, unfair competition, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of warranty
• Conduct complex IP, securities, and products liability litigation

Regulatory

• Counsel on state and federal securities law compliance
• Advise on business structure and organization
• Provide corporate counsel on accounting, taxes, human resources, and employee benefits
• Advise on IP protection and licensing, and negotiate science and technology transactions